Myrica

MYRICA ASPLENIFOLIA (_syn Comptonia asplenifolia_).--Sweet Fern. North

America, 1714. A North American plant of somewhat straggling growth,

growing to about 4 feet high, and with linear, pinnatified,

sweet-smelling leaves. The flowers are of no decorative value, being

small and inconspicuous, but for the fragrant leaves alone the shrub

will always be prized. It grows well in peaty soil, is very hardy, and

may be increa ed by means of offsets. This shrub is nearly allied to our

native Myrica or Sweet Gale.



M. CALIFORNICA.--Californian Wax Myrtle. California, 1848. In this we

have a valuable evergreen shrub that is hardy beyond a doubt, and that

will thrive in the very poorest classes of soils. In appearance it

somewhat resembles our native plant, but is preferable to it on account

of the deep green, persistent leaves. The leaves are about 3 inches

long, narrow, and produced in tufts along the branches. Unlike our

native species, the Californian Wax Myrtle has no pleasant aroma to the

leaves.



M. CERIFERA.--Common Candle-berry Myrtle. Canada, 1699. This is a neat

little shrub, usually about 4 feet high, with oblong-lanceolate leaves,

and inconspicuous catkins.



M. GALE.--Sweet Gale or Bog Myrtle. This has inconspicuous flowers, and

is included here on account of the deliciously fragrant foliage, and

which makes it a favourite with cultivators generally. It is a native

shrub, growing from 3 feet to 4 feet high, with deciduous,

linear-lanceolate leaves, and clustered catkins appearing before the

leaves. A moor or bog plant, and of great value for planting by the pond

or lake side, or along with the so-called American plants, for the aroma

given off by the foliage.



The Myricas are all worthy of cultivation, although the flowers are

inconspicuous--their neat and in most cases fragrant foliage, and

adaptability to poor soil or swampy hollows, being extra

recommendations.